Community Leadership Development Class 7 Graduates

The Class 7 of the Oklahoma Municipal League’s Community Leadership Development (CLD) class held their graduation session recently in Ponca City.

Twenty-seven community staff and leaders attended six sessions throughout the past year in various communities across the state.  Each session focused on different aspects of leadership designed to equip participants with the skills and information they need to make a positive impact on their local communities.

The graduation session featured a tour of the Marland Mansion & Estate, a welcome by Mayor Homer Nicholson, and dinner and entertainment by historic actors.  In addition, there were group presentations by the class members, focusing on how to respond to an actual Request for Proposal (RFP) that had previously been received by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODC).

The purpose of the group presentation was to give class members first-hand experience in responding to a company showing interest in locating their company in an Oklahoma city or town.  The winning group, representing the town of Harrah included Dorie Spitler, Leisa Haynes, K.P. Westmoreland and Holly Gordon.  Judges for the presentations were Connie Lake and Christopher Suttle, both Project Managers in Business Recruitment for the ODC.

According to Cheryl Adams, OML Programs Manager, Class 7 was a great class of eager people who shared a desire to learn more about leadership so that they can make their cities and towns even better.  Adams added that the CLD Class 8 will begin in April.

Front row, left to right: Brad Harding, City of Wagoner; Kelsie Willis, OMAG; Cheryl Adams, OML; Leisa Haynes, City of Rio Communities, New Mexico; Heather Brothers, City of El Reno; Rhonda Hash, City of Wagoner; Lindy Clay, OWRB; Second Row: Suzie Paulson, OMAG; Dorie Spitler, OMAG; Taylor Tannehill, City of Wagoner; Holly Gordon, Gateway to Prevention and Recovery; LaCosta Rawls, Town of Earlsboro; Josh VanDeburgh, City of Weatherford; Tracey Taylor, Town of Ochelata; April Bradbury, OML; Paula Puckett, City of Altus; Tamara Vickrey, City of El Reno; Katie Gore, City of El Reno; Jeff Knapp, City of Bethany. Back row: Paul Weigl, OG&E, Dustin Scott, City of Marietta; Dave Andren, City of Mangum; Cody Roe, City of Mangum; Ricky Burch, City of Elk City; Tim Bagby, City of Elk City.